World Biodiversity Day, set by the UN for 22nd May, should be renamed Biodiversity Disaster Day says environment group, Sustainable Population Australia (SPA).

The Australian government has this year added 53 new species to the national threatened species list and has upgraded some species to a higher level of threat. This clearly shows there is a problem, but the solution is unpalatable to the major political parties.

If the Coalition has its way free speech is to be confined to that which agrees with their dictates. This is clearly shown in a House of Representatives committee report released, so as not to be noticed, in the days leading to the calling of the election.

Hundreds of environment groups in Australia have been assessed by the Australian Tax Office as worthy of receiving tax deductible donations. The work of these groups usually includes advocacy, such as lobbying for the adoption of more renewable energy or arguing against more coal mines. This advocacy sometimes brings them into conflict with government policy.

Australia needs to be part of a global economic transition away from the pursuit of endless growth, and away from a world where those with capital and short-term interests call all the shots, according to Sustainable Population Australia (SPA) and Economic Reform Australia (ERA).

In this issue you will find a full analysis of SPA's groundbreaking survey of Australia's attitudes to population growth. There are articles also on climate change and two book reviews: "Killing the Koala and Poisoning the Prairie" and "Climate, Fire and Human Evolution".

Today Australia’s population is predicted to reach 24 million, having come much faster than some were expecting. In October 2009 it was 22m, 23m in March 2013, now in Feb 2016 we have hit 24m. Each extra million is arriving at a faster rate, the consequence of exponential growth - and it will get worse.
Environment group, Sustainable Population Australia (SPA) asks what 24 million people means for Australia. SPA’s President, Sandra Kanck, says the answer is congestion, loss of biodiversity, impossible demands on infrastructure, water shortages, more climate change, more urban sprawl and astronomical real estate prices. “The Australian government has no overarching plan for managing these problems which will only get worse with still more people”, says Ms Kanck.

Tomorrow, 13th February, is the 250th anniversary of the birth of English population pioneer, Rev Thomas Malthus (1766-1834) who warned of the dire consequences of population growth.
With the world population of 7.4 billion still growing at more than 80 million a year, it is time we focused more on population control, says environment group Sustainable Population Australia (SPA).